Lubricating device for steam engines



Mamh 26:, R929.

A. COOPER LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR STEAM ENGINES Filed Sept. 17. 1926 Patented Mai. 26, 192 9. v

UNITED STATES I 1,706,482 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR COOPER, OF EARLSBOBO, OKLAHOMA.

-nmmrcn'rxiw DEVICE FOR, s'rnnm nneinns.

Application filed September"17, 1926. Serial No. 136,156.

This invention relates to lubricating devices for steam engines and has for its principal object the provision of means for introducing oil'by means of boiler pressureinto 5 the steam line from the boiler to engine against the pressure'in said steam line.

This makes necessary the provision. of.

step-up means for imparting to the oil a pressure superior to boiler pressure, andthe present invention, in its more specific concept relates to the pro-vision of pressure differentiating means, actuated by boiler pressure, and in turn transmitting a greater pressure to a body of o'iliwhich also is in communication with thesteam line.

Otherobjectsof the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In tht drawings,

1 is a vertical section, more or less diagrammatic in form showing one embodi ment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring now in ,detail to the several figures, and first adverting to that form of the inventionshown in Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 represents a cylinder in which a pipe 7.

It is obvious. that pressure fromthe steam line is in communication with the cylinder on both sides of the piston 2, whichordinarily would render the piston entirely inert. .But in the present instance the principle of the differential pistons is employed, adis-v placement plunger 6 being secured to the head of the cylinder through the stuifing gland 9.

The object of the displacement plunger is to reduce the area of the upper face of the separating the cylinder into upper and lower The former of which, designatedpiston 2 and extending through the upper piston 2 exposed to pressure of the oil in the oil chamber. Since the same pressure per 7 square inch is admitted to both sides of the piston 2, and since the area of the lower face of the piston exceeds that of the annular upper face, it follows that there will be an aggregate pressure against the lower face greater than that against the upper face,

said greater pressure being transmit ed through the piston to the body of oil in the "oil chamber increasing the pressure per square inch upon the oil.

For instance, a boiler pressure of 100 lbs. v

transmitted through the pipe 5 to the water in the cylinder below the piston 2 is increased, perhaps 105 lbs. per square inch on the'upper face of the piston 2, the Water acting as a liquid piston. This pressure is transmitted to the oil as the piston rises,

. forcing it at a pressure superior to the steam pressure into the steam line 6.

The oil discharge pipe 7 is controlled by a' valve 8 through which normally only a very small jet of .oil pames, so that the upper movement of the piston 2 is extremely slow, a great many hours being ordinarily required to em ly the oil chamber. This gives ample time or thesteam entering the pipe 5 to condense into water to meet the demands of the increasing capacity of the water chamher as the piston rises. I

When it is desired to fillthe oil chamber it is first necessary that the piston 2 along with the displacement plunger 8 be returnedto its original position with the piston 2 at or adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 1.

d "This may be accomplished by shutting the valve 10'in the pipe 5-thus cutting off steam pressure rom the lower end of the cylinder, and opening the drain cock 11 to vent the water chamber. The oil controlling'valve -12 is left open and steam entering therethrough, overbalances the piston 2, returning it to the bottom of the cylinder. The

valve 12 is then temporarily closed and the oil chamber vented by' opening the funnel valve 13. When the pressure in the oil chamber has become sufliciently reduced the' oil may then" be replenished through the funnel, after which the several valves may be adjusted to restore the device to normal operative condition. ,Inthat form of my invention shown in Fig. 2, a cylinder le offtwodiameters is provided, the. lower part 15 which is of larger diameter being in communication with the steam line, by means of the steam pipe 16, and the fupper part .17 'of smaller diameter being in communication by means of the oil pipe 18 with said steam line.

A piston 19 is mounted for reciprocation Within said cylinder, said piston havin an enlarged lower head fitting that part oi the cylinder which is of larger diameter and a relatively small upper head 21'fitting that part of the cylinder which is of smaller diameter. The piston is of such height as to form a chamber in the part of the cylinder of smaller diameter when the piston is at the lower end of its stroke, this chamber being an oil reservoir which may be filled, upon depletion of the oil contained therein, by means of the value controlled funnel 23. The trunk of thepiston 19 is of uniform diameter between the two heads leaving an.

annular space 24 surrounding it within the lower part of the cylinder, said space being capable of being put into communication with the steam line by means of the valve controlled pipe 25. Said annular space may be vented when necessary through a valve controlled passage 28. pipe 18 is also valve controlled and formed with a sight glass 26 by means of which the rate of operation of the lubricating device may be ascertained in the usual manner. A valve controlled drain pipe 27 is tapped into the lower head of the cylinder.

The piston operates upon the principle of differential pressures, the'outer face of the enlarged head 20 being of greater area than that of the head 21 so that equal pressure per unit of area acting upon the outer faces of said piston heads will produce an excess aggregate pressure upon the outer face ofthe piston head 20, forcing the pis ton upwardly against the body of oil in the reservoir- 22. Since the steam pressure from the steam line acts with equal pressure upon the lower head of the piston through the pipe 16 and upon the body of oil in the reservoir through the pipe 18,'it is the slight excess pressure produced by the diiierences in area of the two heads of the pistons which is relied upon to force oil through the valved discharge pipe18 into the steam line. I

It will beunderstood that ordinarily the opening through the pipe 18 will be exceedinglyrestricted, its passage at any time being controlled by the valve 27 so that the rise of the piston 19 will be-extremely slow.

When the reservoir has finally been emptied and it is desired. to recharge it, it becomes necessary as in the first described apparatus to cause-the vpiston to return to itsoriginal position at the bottom of the cylinder, This The oil discharge surrounding the trunk of the piston. The

area of the piston head 21 lus the area of the annular part'of the piston head 20, equals the area of the lower face of the piston head 20. It is obvious therefore that any steam pressure whatsoever'entering the annular space surrounding the piston trunk is suflicient under the conditions described to return the piston to its' normal position. When the upper part of the cylinder has been vacated by the piston the tunnel may be opened and a fresh supply of oil poured in.

Although l have disclosed what ll believe to be practical and preferred forms of in invention, yet it is to be understood that the description is not to be considered limitative in its relation to the invention, but merely exemplary of one w invention maybe carried out.

I claim:

ay in which the.

Means for introducinglubricating oil into the steam supply of a steam engine, comprising a casing of two diameters and a piston of two diametersworking therein, the part of said casing of smaller diameter and the corresponding part. of said piston together forming a reservoir having a movable bottom wall and the part of said casing of larger diameter formingwith said piston an annular chamber having a movable bottom wall, means for placing said reservoir into communication with the steam supply, valve controlled means for subjecting the end of larger diameter of said piston to the pressure of the steam supply and valve controlled means for placing said annular cutting oil the steam pressure from the part ofthe piston of larger diameter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTH R COOPER. 1 

